Envelope construction



Jam. 3, W67 5. W. BERGKAMP ENVELOPE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 17, 1965 INVENTOR h/flm /m/W ATTORNEY'.

United States Patent 3,295,747 ENVELOPE CONSTRUCTION Eugene W. Berglramp, 8032 Buttonwood Way, Citrus Heights, Calif. 95610 Filed Feb. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 433,270 1 Claim. (Cl. 22986) This invention relates to an envelope construction, and has as its primary object the provision of an improved means for facilitating the opening of the envelope.

A primary object of the invention is the provision of an envelope of this character which includes the usual envelope portion, and a foldable flap which is adapted to be sealed to close the envelope, wherein a string or cord is positioned under the fold line of the closure member so that by grasping an end of the string the opening of the enevelope may be materially facilitated.

A very important object of the invention resides in the provision of novel means whereby the ends of the string may become readily accessible to one who desires to open the enevelope, without the necessity of having such string project outwardly of the envelope.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such means whereby the string may be grasped from either end, so that the envelope may be opened in either direction.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of an improved device of this character wherein perforated lines are provided adjacent the ends of the closure flap, so that the end of the envelope may be initially torn to provide access to the string for opening the same.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds and shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a rear elevational view of one form of envelope showing the string opening means of the slit comprising an element thereof at each end of the closure p;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a view taken from the inside of the envelope showing the string or cord extended through the slit at the end of the fold line;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing a different form of envelope construction;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 discloses a different form of envelope, and a modified form of construction, wherein tear lines or perforations are provided in lieu of the slits of the species of FIGURES 1 and 4; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary front view of the construction of FIGURE 6.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, there is generally indicated at 10 one form of envelope construction, which includes a plain front portion 11, side flaps 12 folded inwardly along fold lines 13 and a bottom or rear flap 14 folded upwardly and inwardly along a fold line 15, the side and rear flaps being adhesively secured together to define a pocket. The envelope is adapted to be closed by means of a top flap 16 foldable along fold line 17, the inner side of the top flap having adhesive thereon to seal to the outer side of the rear flap in the usual manner.

3,295,747 Patented Jan. 3, 1967 A string or cord 18 is secured along the underside of the fold line 17 in anydesired manner, but preferably by adhesive. The opposite ends 19 of the cord extend outwardly of the fold lines through relatively short slits 20 at either end of the fold line, so as to be readily accessible to one who wishes to open the envelope. By grasping either of the ends 19, the entire fold line may be severed so that the envelope may be opened with a minimum of time, effort, and difficulty.

FIGURES 4 and 5 disclose a modified form of construction. In this form of the invention the envelope 10a includes a front portion 11a, side flaps foldable along fold lines 13a, and a rear flap 14a foldable along the line 1511. While these flaps are different in configuration from those of the foregoing modification they are assembled in the same manner by adhesively securing the same together to form a pocket. This pocket is closed by a rear flap 16a foldable along a fold line 17a, under which is adhesively secured a string or cord 18a similar to the cord 18. The ends of 1% of cord 18a extend outwardly through slits 20a at the ends of the fold line 17a, so that they may similarly be grasped to tear the fold line 17a and open the envelope. In both of the foregoing modifications the length of the cord 18 or 18a is substantially equal to the length of the associated fold line, so that the projecting ends of the cord do not extend sufficiently to become entangled with extraneous objects and open the envelope accidentally.

In FIGURES 6 and 7 there is disclosed a modified form of construction where-in an envelope 1% is comprised of a front portion 11b, side flaps 12b foldable along fold lines 1312 and a bottom flap 14b foldable along a fold line 15!). These components are also adhesively secured together in the usual manner, and the envelope is closed by a top flap 16b foldable along a fold line 17b, the top flap having adhesive on its inner side.

In this form of construction, a cord 18b of a length substantially equal to the length of fold line 17b is extended thereunder and adhesively secured thereto in the same manner as in the foregoing constructions. However, in this modification the ends of the rear flap 16b and the ends of the front portion 11b are provided with lines of perforations 22 and 23 respectively, which immediately underlie the cord or string 18!) and extend inwardly a slight distance from the opposite top corners of the envelope. In this form of the invention the string is completely concealed and contained within the envelope, until such time as one corner of the envelope is torn along the perforations, at which time the end of the string may be readily grasped by the user, and the envelope torn open along the fold line 171).

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved envelope construction which accomplishes all the. objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiments hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

An envelope construction comprising an envelope including a front portion, rear and end flaps integral with the front portion and foldable along bottom and end fold lines, secured together to define an open topped pocket, and a top flap integral with the front portion and foldable along a top fold line over the secured rear and end flaps to form a closure for the pocket, adhesive sealing means on the inner side of said top flap, a string of a length less than the length of said top fold line adhesively secured beneath said top fold line along the juncture of the top of said front portion and said top flap along substantially the entire length thereof, and access means to the ends of said string adjacent the ends of said top fold line to permit grasping of said string to tear said envelope open along said top fold line, said access means comprising means defining open-ended slits along said top fold line extending inwardly towards each other from the end of the fold line to a distance to overlie the ends of said string, each end of said string extending outwardly of said envelope through one of said slits at a point spaced .inwardly from the end of the envelope.

4 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS l/ 1920 France.

5/ 1962 France.

5/ 1937 Italy.

5/ 1964 Switzerland.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Examiner. 

